Desire Shutdown
A strong reduction or “switch-off” in desire and arousal, often triggered by stress, pressure, conflict, fear, shame, or lack of safety.
What This Really Means
Shutdown is often a protective nervous-system response, not a moral choice.
It can be temporary (a stressful season) or persistent (chronic conflict, unresolved pain, coercive dynamics).
Reports should emphasize non-harm principles, consent, and repair; if coercion, trauma symptoms, or pain are present, qualified support is more important than optimization tips.
Examples
Desire disappears when conflict is unresolved
Pressure to perform leads to numbness
After betrayal, arousal is hard to access
Chronic stress keeps the body in “survival mode.”
Common Misunderstandings
Tap each myth to reveal the reality
Desire Shutdown doesn’t automatically mean you’re not sexual, and context still matters.
Shutdown proves the relationship can feel like over sometimes, but Desire Shutdown refers to a strong reduction or “switch-off” in desire and arousal, often triggered by stress, pressure, conflict, fear, shame, or lack of safety.
The solution isn’t automatically to push harder, and Desire Shutdown is about a strong reduction or “switch-off” in desire and arousal, often triggered by stress, pressure, conflict, fear, shame, or lack of safety.
More accurately, Desire Shutdown refers to a strong reduction or “switch-off” in desire and arousal, often triggered by stress, pressure, conflict, fear, shame, or lack of safety, and if you’re in a relationship, you should comply anyway doesn’t follow from that.
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Inside LoveIQ
We identify patterns related to Desire Shutdown by analyzing responses in our assessment modules, helping you understand your unique relationship dynamics.
Sample visualization of a gap metric.
“You don't need to label yourself. These terms help describe patterns — not define you.”
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